Two of the Queen’s favourite animals have gone head to head after a bevy of swans moved in at a Surrey racecourse.

Dozens of the birds have set up home at Kempton Park Racecourse and may be moved on amid safety fears for them and race horses.

Thought to have been attracted by the open water around the track, the birds moved in and, despite their numbers dwindling slightly, show no signs of leaving.

Last year a jockey was thrown from a horse during a race when a swan and two cygnets went onto the track.

No harm was done to the birds or horses but it brought about safety fears for the racecourse owners.

Discussions have taken place between course officials, Natural England and representatives of the Queen, who retains the ownership of all unmarked swans in England and Wales.

Officers from Natural England, the government’s adviser on the natural environment, are looking at what can be done to ‘alleviate the issue the birds are causing’, with one option being moving the swans.

Her majesty’s Swan Marker David Barber told the Surrey Advertiser Buckingham Palace would not object if Natural England applied for a licence to move the swans.

“We have to look after the safety of the swans and horses, as well as the riders,” he said. “It’s about getting some sort of compromise.

“There doesn’t seem to have been any injuries to the swans but we need to try to resolve the situation.

“There’s many instances like this, there’s all sorts of different problems with wildlife. It goes on all the time. Its not unusual.

“There’s a lot of open water at Kempton Park and a lot of swans in the area so they have started liking it there. If you have just one breeding pair then it allows them to keep other swans away. I think that’s what we will end up with.”

A spokesman for Natural England said an adviser has visited Kempton Park to assess the problem.

She said: “A number of management measures to alleviate the issues which the birds are causing are being discussed. There are various non-licensed options which should be tried first.

“Ultimately options may need to be licensed under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, although no licence has been issued as yet.”

Kempton’s clerk of the course, Barney Clifford, confirmed options were being looked at.

“We are now waiting on a decision and input from Natural England as to how we resolve this matter going forward,” he said.